Richard Ralphsmith steps down as MADC president, new committee members announced

After three years on the MADC, president Richard Ralphsmith, creative director of CHE Melbourne, has stepped down. Ralphsmith thanks the entire team for their support and their hard, unpaid work in service of the Melbourne advertising community.

“This a great and much-loved club and I’ve felt privileged to be a part of it,” he says. “I wish all the best of luck to the new team, who will be officially welcomed on board next week when the committee will vote for the Club’s president, vice president and treasurer.”

Having recently called for nominations from the membership, new talent has joined the committee in 2011.

This includes:

Pete Bidenko from Clemenger Proximity

Nigel Dawson from Grey

Jim Antonopoulos from Tank Studio

Chris Kerr from Clemenger BBDO

Thea McLeod from McLeod Casting

Helene Nicol from The Guild

The new committee members replace outgoing committee members Lachie Dunn, Nick Cummins, Marty Hungerford, Erin Gallagher and Jennifer Chin.

These people have helped make 2010 a stellar year for the club, says Ralphsmith, with membership more than doubling and award entries setting a new record.

“We also staged some great events like the Gilbert & George exhibition, the [Leo Burnett worldwide creative director] Mark Tutssel presentation, the Free For All membership drive and the recent successes with the MADC awards night and Creative RAW competition,” he says. “We’ll soon be announcing the appointment of a major new sponsor. These are just a few of the milestones in a year full of them.”